Fish filleting machine



Dec. 2, 1947. v c, M, SAVRDA 2,431,893

' FISH FILLETING MACHINE Filed Aug; 22, 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 ADec. 2,1947. c. M. sAvRDA FISH FILLETING MACHINE Filed Aug. 22, 1944 8Sheets-Sheet 2 Q INVENTOR. CHARLES/MSA vRoA ATTORNEY Dec. 2, 1947. l C.M. sAvRDA 2,431,893

FISH FILLETING MACHINE IN VEN TOR.

' Arron/fx Dec. 2, 1947.

C. M. SAVRDA FISH FILLETING MACHINE Filed Aug. 22, 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet 4JNVENTOR. CHA/u 5 /1//. 5,4 vRoA BY W v A 7' TOR/VE Y.

Dec. 2, 1,947. c. M. sAvRDA FISH FILLETING MACHINE Filed Aug. 22, `19448 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN1/EN TOR CHA fz. f5 M. 5A VADO/1 WLM i'ec., 1947.. c.M. sAvRDA 2,431,893

FISH FILLETING MACHINE Filed Aug. 22, 1944 s sheets-sheet e INVENTOKCWA/nfs M. .5A man 4 TTORNE X C. M. SAVRDA FISH FI'LLETING MACHINE FiledAug. l22, 1944 @Za-f3 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR, CHA ,a 5 M SA VRD/J ATraa/vg Patented Dec. 2, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE FISH FILLETINGMACHINE Charles M. Savrda, Bay Shore, N. Y., assignor to The AtlanticCoast Fisheries Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of MaineApplication August 22, 1944, Serial No. 550,500 1s claims. (ci. 174-4)This invention relates to a fish treating machine and more particularlyto fish filleting machines.

United States Patent 2,149,021 discloses a sh lleting machine wherein afish, tail leading and back downward, is first cut inwardly along itsback throughout its length and almost to the backbone, and thereafterpassed to the zone of action of a pair of circular belly-slitting kniveswhich slit the belly side of the sh. During the latter operation, theiish is supported upon a pair of rotating guide discs, The guide discsand the circular belly-slitting knives are rotated at high peripheralspeeds. When the fish leaves the Zone of action of the belly-slittingknives, each iillet remains attached to the ribs of the fish and also tothe backbone of the fish by ribbons of flesh between the cuts from theback and belly sides. Due to the rotation of the belly-slitting knivesand the supporting guide discs, the fish is projected on to a pair ofspaced rigid ribbing knives which sever the fillets fromv the backboneand the ribs. A ribbing conveyer serves to feed the fish over theribbing knives.

The ribbing knives disclosed in the aforementioned patent comprise apair of severing and ribbing blades which are arranged in spacedparallel relationship with each other to dei-lne a slit between whichthe backbone of the fish extends. The forward portions of the bladesform severing knife portions and are merely flat with sharpened upperedges. These knife portions sever iiesh from the sides of the backboneand connect the back and belly incisions or slices, so that the filletis free from the bones of the fish except for its connection to the ribsthereof. Rearwardly of the severing portions, the blades formrib-scraping knife portions which are in the form of sharpened edges atthe upper edges of the blades. Along these portions of the blades, theirupper margins diverge upwardly. Further rearwardly, the blades turnhorizontally outwardly, forming shelf-like portions which are likewisesharpened along their edges. Spaced outwardly and beginning at theirforward ends somewhat above the shelf-like portions of the blades is apair of retainer shields which hold the fillet down and thereby purportto retain the extremities of the ribs in proper relation with the edgesof the blades. At the rear extremity of the blades is a pair of circularknives which act to sever any remaining connection that may existbetween the fillets and the central or bone part of the fish.

UnitedStates Patent 2,179,821 discloses ribbing knives which are capableof use in the machine shown in United States Patent 2,149,021. Theribbing knives shown in Patent 2,179,821 comprise a pair of spacedknives provide'd at the top with sharp cutting edges. The forwardextremities of the cutting edges are straight and substantiallyhorizontal, Rearwardly of the forward extremities of the knives, thecutting edges merge into longitudinally curved cutting edges. Thus, fromthe forward extremities to the rear extremities, the cutting edges arecontinuous and comprise initially straight portions merging inlongitudinally curved portions. Additionally, these knives divergeoutwardly from the forward extremities to the rear thereof.

Though the fish fllleting apparatus, including the ribbing knives,disclosed in Patent 2,149,021 and 2,179,821 constitutes an advance inthe art, nevertheless a considerable amount of flesh remains attached tothe skeleton, with the result that a considerable part of the ediblefish flesh is lost.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved fishfilleting apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fish illeting apparatuswhich will give maximum recovery.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for maintainingthe fish in proper position on the ribbing knives as the fish is fedthereover to insure maximum recovery.

A still further object of this invention is to provide means forpreventing the fillet from swinging out as it is being formed.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an adjustablemeans which controls the amount of nape which is to be included on orremoved from the iillets.

Other and additional objects will become apparent hereinafter.

Herein the expression nape is used in the same manner as it is used inthe art to designate the fleshy wall of the belly cavity.

The objects of this invention are accomplished, in general, by providinghold-down means which, as the iish is fed over the ribbing knives, firstenters into the incisions in the belly side of the sh and then engagethe fish on the ribs extending from both sides of the backbone and exertsufcient pressure to maintain the fish in contact with the ribbingknives to permitthe scraping action but insufcient to cause the knivesto cut through the ribs. The hold-down means also serves to prevent thefish and the fillet from moving inwardly and downwardly between theknives. Due to the fact that the ribbingknives are parallel at theirforward ends and then gradually diverge upwardly and rearwardly, theholddown means is formed in three sections. Each of the three sectionsof the hold-down means is made independently yieldable so that each canperform its intended function as the ribs of the fish increase in size.The rst section is pivotally mounted under tensiony on aswi'velf wherebyit can be raised by and accommodate itself to the increase in size ofthe backbone. The second sec.- tion of the hold-down means is alsopivotallyw mounted whereby it can be raised byfandlacc'o'mmodate itselfto the increase in sine of, the ribs of the sh passing therebenea'th;The third specition of the hold-down means is tensionrmountd andcontrolled by fillet guides, hereafter de-v scribed, to accommodate the.increasedsie.. off the ribs passing therebeneath. The three.A sectionsare all interrelated, as will become apparent from the descriptionhereinafter. It is to be understood that' each section comprisestwoV op:positeiy disposed and dewnvva'rd'iy` converging members; each mountedand functioning inthe identicalrnanner. l

As theillet is cutfro'm theflsh', it'ihcreases in thickness as the iishis fed' over. the ribbing knives. The llets', during" the courseof;their production, have a tendency to swing outwardly. The instantinvention provides a pair of llet guides, one on each 'side o'fth'e.r'nachii're which prevent the respective. filletsY engaged thereby fromswinging` outwardly. Thefillet guides are positioned opposite to thethirdV sectionA of the hold-down means andare mounted so thatA theywill: yield in. a lateral. direction. toY accommodate increasedthickness of. the: fillet and simultaneously actuate and control.- the.movement. of said. third section.`

At the rear end, eachmember of thethirdrsection of the hold-down meansis provided withA an adjustable nape controlwhich serves to-guideandposition the nape into-proper position for nal cut-oil. UponY adjustmentof thenape control, the entire nape or. any part thereof; can beremoved.

The specic details of the invention.t will now be described wit-hreference .to thedrawings which show an illustrative embodiment of theinvention and form a part of; thisfspecication, and wherein:

Figurel is aside elevation, .partlyfbroken away, of the invention;

Figures 2 and 2a, are: ai section taken onl the line 2--2V of Figure 1;

Figure 4' is a sectiontaken' on the lineA `-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section taken on th'eline 5:'-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a1 section taken onk the line 5 6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is aside elevation of thenape control;

Figure 8 is a section taken onthev line' 3-8 of Figure 7;

Figurev 9 is a side elevation, partly broken away, to show certainldetails of construction more clearly;

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the left member of'the firstsection ofvthe hold-down means;

Figure llis an end'view of the hold-down membershown in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a side elevation of the left member of the second sectionor the'hold-down-means Figure 13 is an end view of the hold-down membershown in Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a side elevation of the left member of the third section ofthe hold-down means together with the supporting means;

Figure 15 is an end view of the hold-down member shown in Figure 14; and

Figures- 16, 17, 18 and 19 are diagrammatic cross-sectional viewsshowing the relation of parts at diierent stages of the lleti'ngoperation.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference charactersdesignate like parts, and particularly toFigure 1, the reference numeral2 designates ai pair of parallel circular belly-slitting knives mountedon a single shaft 4 carried ima; suitable bearing mounted on the frameof the machine (not shown). Below the belly knives 2, th'ereis a pair ofcircular guide discs 6 mounted on a single shaft 8 carried in a suitablebearing mounted on the frame of the machine (not `sl'iow'n). The guidediscs 3' aredesigned to'enter the slit in the back of the sh, made byappa; ratus not a' part of this invention, and" engage the backbone tosupport the nshiduring the-belly'- slitting operation. Thebelly-slitting knives'. y2 andthe guide'discs 6y are driven bysuitableimeans (not shown) at high peripheral speeds. Whenlthe sh leavethe Zone of action ofthe belly knives12, the fillets are still partlyattached to the backbone by ribbons of esh between the exposed eX-trenfiilfies.ofy the back and belly cuts and also t'o the ribs;

The aforementioned belly-slitting knives 2 and the: circular supportingdiscs 6`are of the general type shown in United StatesPatent 2,149,021,'or in` copending application Serial No. 534,708; and 'since thespecicdetails of construction thereof form no part of this invention, furtherdescrip'- tionl thereof is deemed unnecessary.

The fish is fed through the zone of action of thebelly knives 2 at ahigh rate of speed and is projected onto a pair of ribbing knives,generally indicated by the reference numeral Il);v A ribbing conveyer,of the type shown in UnitedStates Patent 2,149,021 or in United StatesPatent 2,397,158, 'aids to feed the sh acrossvthe ribbing knives'. Inthe form shown in Figure 6, the ribloing conveyer is provided with apairA of op'- positely disposed pusher fingers I2 of the type andvconstruction shown in United States Patent 2,397,158. Y

Since the specific details of construction of the aforementioned ribbingconveyer and pusher fingers carried thereby form no part of thisinvention, further description thereof is deemed 'unnecessary. A fulland complete description of the preferred ribbing conveyer and-pusherfingers is given in United States Patent 2,397,158.

Each of the ribbing knives I0, appropriately mounted in the machine (notshown), comprises al pair of spaced knives having cutting edges vHl atthe top thereof. As shown in Figures 16-19 inclusive, the ribbing knivesI 0 are, in general, straight (vertically disposed) and substantiallyparallel at the forward portion, and thereafter the knives i9 graduallydiverge outwardly and upwardly, from the forward extremities, to therear ends thereof. Ribbing knives of the type shown in United StatesPatent 2,400,118 and application Serial No. 534,875 may be used.

As shown in Figures l, 2a, 18 and 19, a circular cut-oil knife l5 isprovided adjacent the exit end of each knife I0. Each knife l isdisposedfat an angle substantially the same as that of theknifeoppositely disposed defiectors 20. These deflectors are positioned sothat the bottom edges 22 thereof enter in the incisions made by thebellyslitting knives 2 as the fish leaves the zone of action of saidknives and urge the sh onto the ribbing knives |0. Each of thedeflectors 20 is! bent into the form shown in Figure 3 and is providedwith an integral bracket 24 which is secured, as shown in Figure 1, ontoa support 26. The support 26 is mounted on the head 28 carried betweenthe frame members 30 and around which the ribbing conveyer (not shown)passes.

As is shown in Figure 1, the forward portion of each deflector 20overlaps on the belly-slitting knife 2 adjacent thereto, and at the reareach deflector 20 is provided with an extension 34 which overlaps ontothe exterior surface of the first section of the hold-down means.

The rst section of the hold-down means comprises two oppositely disposedmembers 36. Since the details of construction of and the manner in whichboth members are mounted are identical, only one of such members and themanner in which it is mounted will be described. As shown in Figures 10and 11, each member 36 comprises a plate, the lower edge 40 of which isinclined downwardly from the front to the rear thereof and terminates ina rounded corner 42. For reasons which will become apparent, each plate36 of the hold-down means is provided with an outwardly extending flange44 at the top edge thereof. The flange 44 tapers inwardly from the fronttoward the rear thereof. Each plate 36 is mounted at an angle with thebottom edge thereof in alignment with the knife disposed therebeneath,and the corner 42 normally rests on the knife. With this in view, eachplate 36 of Ithe first hold-down section, as shown in Figures 2, 4, and9, is secured to a holder 46. The holder 48 is provided with a boss 50which is secured onto a shaft 52 carried in an inclined journal 54. Asshown in Figures 4, 5 and 9, the journal 54 is formed at the end of arib -56 on a bracket 58. The vertical member of the bracket 58 issecured by bolts 60 to the frame 30. A collar 62 on each end of theshaft 52 positions it in place. As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 9, at itslower end, each bracket 58 is provided with a lug '|0 in which there ispositioned an adjustable stop screw 'l2 which is adapted to cooperatewith the flange 44 of the plate 36. Each bracket 58 is also providedwith a horizontal arm i4 in which a stop screw I6 is adjustabiypositioned. The stop screw 16 is designed to cooperate with the forwardedge of the holder 48 and limit its movement. Lock nuts are used tosecure the screws 'l2 and 16 in adjusted position.

A spring 82 (see Figures l and 9), having one en-d secured to an arm 50extending from the boss 50 of the holder 43 and the other end secured toa pin 84 carried by the frame 30, normally urges the plate 36 to rotateabout the shaft 52 in a direction whereby the rear corner 42 of theplate 36 is urged downwardly into contact or almost in contact with theribbing knife. The

stop screw 'I6 limits the movement of the plate in the downwarddirection. The stop screw 'l2 limits the movement of the plate about thepivot in an upward direction, as will be hereafterexplained.

As shown in Figures l, 2 and 9, at itsrear end 6 and adjacent the topthereof, each plate 36 is providedV with a screw 88 which cooperateswith a horizontal slot 90 provided adjacent the top forward portion ofthe second hold-down member next adjacent thereto. It is to be notedthat the rear portion of each of the first hold-down members 36 overlapsonto the exterior surface of vthe respective second hold-down member atthe rforward end thereof.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the second holddown member comprises a pairof oppositely disposed plates 92. Since the details of construction andthe manner of positioning the same in the machine are the same, only oneof such plates and the manner in which it is mounted will be described.As will be seen in Figures 2, 4 and 12,

, the lower edge 96 of each plate 92 is inclined upwardly from the frontto the rear and at an angle substantially the same as the angle ofinclination of the knife therebeneath. Adjacent the rear thereof, eachplate 92 is provided with a vertical slot 98 and at its rear lower endis provided ,with an extension |00. A screw |02 carried by a bracket |03appropriately mounted in the machine cooperates with the slot 98. Due tothis construction, each plate 92 of the second section of the hold-downmeans is movable about the screw 88 as a pivot and also is movable aboutthe screw |02 as a pivot.

The portion of the bracket |03 which carries the screw |02 is offset tothe body thereof and disposed at an angle (see Figures 1, 2 and 9).Because of this construction and the inclination of the plate 36 of therst hold-down section, each plate 92 is also angularly disposed.

The upper edge of each plate 92 is provided with a flange |04 which atits forward end overlaps onto the flange 44 of the plate 36 in frontthereof (see Figures 2 and 13). A stop |06 (see Figures 1 and 9)cooperating with the flange |04 adjacent its rear end limits themovement of the plate 92. Each plate 92, as previously mentioned, isprovided with an extension |00 adjacent the bottom thereof and whichoverlaps on the interior surface of the member |I0 of the thirdVhold-down section.

The stop |06. as shown in Figures 14 and 15, is secured to a brace |08on which the plate ||0 constituting one member of the third section ofthe hold-down means is secured. The lower edge ||2 of the plate ||0inclines upwardly from the front to the rear thereof corresponding tothe angle of inclination of the ribbing knives. Adjacent each end ofeach' brace |08, there is secured by means of screws ||4 a base ||6 of aslide block ||8. Each base |I6 is provided with a boss ||9 having alongitudinal slot |20 for reasons Vwhich will become apparent. Offset toand extending from the top of the base ||6 is a slide |22, also providedwith a boss |23 having a longitudinal slot |24 therein. As clearly shownin Figure 6, the base I6 of the slide block ||8 is position-ed on astationary guide support |26. A screw |28 passing through the slot |20of the base ||6 lof the of the slide block |I8 slidably secures theslide block on the stationary support |26. The slide` |22 is alsodispos-ed on the stationary support |26 at |32. A screw |34 passingthrough the slot |24 secures the slide |22 to the support at |32. It isclear that by this arrangement each slide block is slidable on itsrespective support. The stationary support |26 is carried atthe lowerend of a guide support |50, which is secured by means of screws |52 to aframe member |54 of the machine.

.farm |.58fis secured fat one endyas .byfsoldering, to'the'slide |22.-.The vother vend is secured :at lzitoone end .of .an arm |62. Theotherien'd -of1the farm 162 is pivoted v'at |64 'on 'the `rguide:support |50. fIt isapparent'that .when .thethir'd :section 'of theVhold-downzmeans tis elevated, :the slide zwill lbe :caused .to moveAupwardly whereby ithemovement of the-arm |58 will be transmitted to thearm |62 which will.move about its pivot |64. 4Aispring |66 hasone end.securedtoithe larm .lZas at If'l .and theother end'secured .in tahole|f'|;2,in the .arm |58. 'The slot ;|.2.4limits :the :(gravitational):downward movement yofthe plate whereby the lower edge ofthe'plate;|.||);is einspaced relationship to the knife.

As vis shown in Figure 1, there .is provided ia -pair Iof inlletguides'ZEl, reach of Vwhich Aextends Iion-Topposite sides Vof themachine from approximately'the discharge endof the rst lhold-'down-meansto afdistance infront .of the cut-01T knives 4.6. The feed :end ofeach llet guide 20|] d's -fiared outwardly, las :indicated by Vthelreference numeral z2911, `whereby the `leshof the illet lisgraduallyfintroducedbetween the iillet guide 20o :and .the :exteriorwall of the knife fl .and v:the :hold-down '.members opposite zthereto.`Referfring nowto'Figure 6,'eachllet'gui`de :200 i's'secured toaspacedpairfof-arms :220. Each arm 220 is of the form shownin Figure ".6andat the Ltopi-end .thereof is pivotallyrmounted on a stud `Z22-carriedyin an arm 224 extending :from the guide support 5). A ycam Ilever 230is fpivotally amounted'atf232 on an'earf23l carrie'dby-ithe 'support|50. A screw l236 :adjustably 'secures the cam lever .#230 :to Vthearm.'220. '.It is apparent that when the arm "220 moves outwardly, the .camleverr2-30 will "likewise move outwardly. 'In order -to 'control thel"movement .of :the :members iof the third section ofthe hold-'down:means by ytheiillet guide 1opposite thereto, -the slide |22 .isv4provided with .an 4arm :240 which ycarries a Aboss 24'2rin'which thereis im'ounted a camfroller .244 :which cooperates 'with :a 'can-i" slot246 'of 'the camleverfZSlL Thecam slot246is of suc'hfcontourthat for'awportion of the-relativefmovement between it and the cam roller.f24'4,:the. arm220 'will `be moved outwardly and thereafter, .evenVthough there is 'further arelative :movement be- .tweenlthe c'amslot246 .and-theicamroll'erdfl, the rarm Y:220 Vwill not 'movefoutwardly".In other i-words,'-.in Vthe latter .portionof the operation of thecamjust described, the cam -slot -246is :of a constant radius. .A springf250 -Aha's\one .fend .-'se- -Icured Ito fa pin :252 carried in a lug3254. The other end of the spring-250 issecuredtothe varm,-220,1as-at256, whereby the;arm?.22J:-fis .tensionmounted As"previously-mentioned, the members Il!! 4of lthe'third section of thehold-down `rneans1and the llet guides-200 opposite thereto .terminatefin-advance of the cut-off knives|6,the fdistance therebetween beingsuch that ythe entire ynape fof thefillet will ,bepulled'inwardly-.betweenfand removed by the knives It) and the knives'l.'The :removal of the entire nape results inra vconsiderable -loss :ofish. Accordingly, this invention .includes :means whereby predeterminedportions v.ofthe nape can beremoved. '.With thisdn View,Vtherezareprovided nape-controlguid-es #2l-0. ',One 'of said napecontrol guides 121|) Vis adjustably securedv to each of the members l|i0. of the :third .hold-down section. :As shown in.:Figures 1, '7 .and.8, each -nape control guide Ycon'iprises Ya Allplate .having a slot212. Screws,2'1"4-=reXten3ling throughethe.slotfadjustablysecure;theznape;con

v.trolguide.tothe Yfrespective :member of v.the vthird hold-downsection. The 'bottom edge of each nape .control guide is inclinedupwardly from :thefront'tothe rear thereof andis of the same angularityas the angularity of the'bottom edge of -.the.respective member ||0 towhich it issecured. The rear edge 216 is curved and of a iradiussubstantially .equal-to that of the knives.

VBy :adjustably -moving the nape control lguide relative to the cutoifknives, the quantity-of the nape whichniaybe severed from the filletcan.be controlled.

. From the foregoing description, it. is .apparent that the hold-.downvmeans comprises three .sechiti0ns,'and;each:i:f the vthreesectionscomprises two members videntical :in construction, and eachis mountedsimilarly in the machine. As is apparzent, ,the respective members ofeach section are .oppositely disposed and are mounted so that they Iform a passage converging downwardly between -iigure shows therelationof parts while the vish is in engagement with the rrst section of the.hold-down means. AIt will be noted that the Aholddown means `36 engagesthe backbone on the `opposite sides thereo-f and lthat the knives I0have begun to cut-the llets away from the backbone. VFigure 17 vshowsthe relation of parts as the fish'is passing under the third section ofthe hold-down means. It will' be noted that the hold- -zdown means I0engages the ribs of the fish-and the knife IU is separating the lletfrom the ribs. The llet guides 200, it will be noted, supportthe portionof the fillet which has been severed- Figure I8 shows the sh just priorto the severing .bythe cut-off knives. It will be noted that the .napecontrol guide 2'!!! is in engagement with the ribsof the fish andprevents the fillet from moving over the knives and down therebetween.Figure 19 diagrammatically shows the severance of the fillet.

AI1; is .to be noted from the foregoing that the hold-down .members, andparticularly those of .the'third section, are designed to engage theribs ofthe `iish and prevent the llet from turning down into and betweenthe knives. The holddownmembers vof the second hold-down section mayalso function similarly. The hold-down members of the first sectionhowever, it is to be noted,'may engage the backbone on opposite sidesthereof. The foregoing conditions exist when a :relatively large fish isbeing lleted. However,

when a small sh is being filleted, it is apparent that the hold-downmembers will engage the ribs 'andthat the lleting operation will becompleted beforethe fish has been fed to the cut-01T knives.

'In operation, a sh, tail leading and back downward and from which thedorsal iin has been removed, is fed into the Zone of action of the.belly-slittingknives 2, the supporting discs 6 entering into the slitin the bottom of the Aiish and engaging the backbone. As the sh is being.pro- 4jected'fromthe zone of action of the belly-slitting knives 2, theedges 22 ofthe deflector enter into the slit formed by saidv knives andurge the fish downwardly. At the same .time the ribbing knives l enterinto the incision in the back of the fish. The ribbing conveyer, andparticularly the pusher iingers I2, .engages the sh as described incopending application Serial No. 530,967 and feeds the sh across theribbing knives. Since the extension 3A of the deflector overlaps ontothe first hold-down means 36, the first hold-down means will beintroduced into the incisions in the belly side of the sh and, as thefish is propelled, the rear corner 42 of each of the hold-down membersof the first hold-down means will engage each side` of the backbone orin the vicinity thereof, AThe spring 82 normally urges the respectivemember of the first section downwardly. When the backbone is engaged bythe rear corner of the plate 36, the plate 36 will move about the pivotshaft 52 whereby the corner 42 will be elevated in accordance with thesize of the backbone. During this elevation, the second section which isConnected to the first section will also be elevated at the forward endthereof, the second section pivoting on the screw |2. When the fish haspassed through the first section the spring 82 will return it tooriginal position. The front of the second section will likewise returnto its original position and, while the fish is being engaged by thesecond section, the rear end Vthereof will be elevated, the screw 88serving as the pivot. During passage of the fish through the secondsection, the fillet which has now been partly severed is guided by theflared end 204 of the llet guide 200 so that it will be supported by thefillet guides and prevented from swinging outwardly. As the fishcontinues in its passage across the ribbing knives, and particularlywhen the fillet severed therefrom increases in thickness, the filletguide 260 is caused to move outwardly, whereby the arm 229 is movedabout its pivot 222. The outward movement of the arm 220 moves the camlever 23e therewith, whereby, due to the cam roller 244, the slide |22is caused to move upwardly, which movement is transmitted to thehold-down means. When the fish reaches the rear end of the thirdhold-down member, the nape control guides 210 serve to hold and positionthe fish to and on the ribbing knives I0 and the cut-off knives so thata llet of maximum recovery is obtained.

Since it is obvious that various changes and modifications may be madein the above description without departing from the nature or spiritthereof, this invention is not restricted thereto except as set forth inthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a fish filleting machine having a pair of oppositely disposedribbing knives, which are substantiallyparallel at the forward portionand thereafter gradually diverge outwardly and upwardly from saidforward portion, and means to feed thereover a fish having an incisionin its belly side and with its tail leading and back downward,yieldingly mounted hold-down means positioned above said ribbing knivesto maintain the fish in contact with said ribbing knives and comprisinga series of pairs of oppositely disposed downwardly converging plateswith their respective bottom edges in substantial alignment with thecutting edge of the knife therebeneath.

2. In a fish iilleting machine having a pair of oppositely disposedribbing knives, which are substantially parallel at the forward portionand thereafter gradually diverge outwardly and upwardly from saidforward portion, and means to feed thereover a iish having an incisionin its belly side and with its tail leading and back downward, hold-downmeans to maintain the fish in contact with said ribbing knives, saidhold-down means comprising a series of pairs of oppositely disposedplates with their respective bottom edges in substantial alignment withthe cutting edge of the knife therebeneath, and means to yieldinglymount each pair of said plates above said knives whereby each pair canyield independently of the other pairs.

3. In a fish filleting machine having a pair of oppositely disposedribbing kniveswhich are substantially parallel at the forward portionand thereafter gradually diverge outwardly and upwardly from saidforward portion, and means to feed thereover a fish having an incisionin its belly side and with its tail leading and back downward, hold-downmeans to maintain the fish in contact with said ribbing knives, saidhold-down means comprising a pair of oppositely disposed downwardlyconverging plates, and means to yieldingly mount said plates ab-ove saidknives with their respective bottom edges in substantial alignment withthe cutting edge of the knife therebeneath and in position to enter theincision in the belly side of the sh whereby the fish will be engaged onopposite sides of the backbone.

4. In a fish iilleting machine having a pair of oppositely disposedribbing knives, which are substantially parallel at the forward portionand thereafter gradually diverge outwardly and upwardly from saidforward portion, and means to feed thereover a fish having an incisionin its belly side and with its tail leading and back downward, hold-downmeans to maintain the sh in contact with said ribbing knives, saidhold-down means comprising a pair of oppositely disposed downwardlyconverging plates positioned above said knives, each of said plateshaving its bottom edge in substantial alignment with the cutting edge ofthe knife therebeneath and inclined downwardly from the front to thelrear thereof, and means to yieldingly mount each of said plates withthe bottom edge at the. rear thereof normally in contact with the knifedisposed therebeneath and inposition to enter the incision in the bellyside of the fish and engage it on opposite sides of the backbone.

5. In a fish fllleting machine having a pair of oppositely disposedribbing knives, which are substantially parallel at the forward portionand thereafter gradually diverge outwardly and upwardly from saidforward portion, and means to feed thereover a sh having an incision inits belly side and with its tail leading and back downward, hold-downmeans to maintain the fish in contact with said ribbing knives, saidhold-down means comprising a pair of oppositely disposed downwardlyconverging plates positioned above said knives with the respectivebottom edges in substantial alignment with the cutting edge of the knifetherebeneath, and means to yieldingly mount each of said plates adjacentthe front and rear thereof andv suspend them in position to enter theincision in the belly side of the fish and engage it on opposite sidesof the backbone.

6. In a fish filleting machine having a pair of oppositely disposedribbing knives and means to feed thereover a fish having an incision inits belly side and with its tail leading and back downward, meanspositioned adjacent each of said knives and cooperating therewith toprovide a v11 passage toireceive thellet .as it is 'being severed fromthe fish and-prevent itfromfmoving inwardly between said knives.

7. 'In va fish 'filleting `machine having a pair of oppositely disposedribbing knivesand means to feed .thereover a fish having an incision inits belly side and with its tail'leading and back downward, a filletguide positioned extericrly of and adjacent each of saidkniveaand meansto yieldinglyrmount each of said zfillet guides to permit said guides tovyield Voutwardly as the filletpassing between said knives and guidesincreases in thickness.

8. In a shlleting'machine having a pair of oppositely disposed ribbing.knives and means to feed thereover 1a .fish having-an incision on itsbelly side and with its tail leading and back downward, hold-down meansto maintain the iish in contact with said ribbing knives, said hold-downmeans comprising a pair of oppositely disposed plates, means .toyieldingly mount each of said plates above saidknivesand-suspend saidplates in position to enter the incision'in the belly side of the fishand engage it on opposite sides of the backbone, a llet guidepositionedexteriorly of and adjacent each of said knives-and hold-downplates, means `yieldingly mounting each of said iillet guides to permit'said guides to Ayield outwardlyas the lletincreases in thickness, andmeans actuated by movement of said llet guide to raise and lower thehold-down plate opposite thereto.

9. In a iish iilleting machine having a pair of oppositely disposedribbing knives and means to feed thereover a sh having an incision onits belly side and with its tail' leading and back downward, hold-downmeans to maintain the iish in contact with said ribbing knives, saidhold-down means comprising a 'pair of voppositely disposed plates, aslide secured to each of said plates, means to slidabl-y secure each ofsaid-slides on a respective support disposed above said. knives and inposition to suspend said plates to enter the incision in the belly sideof the shand engage it on opposite sides of thebackbone, alillet guidepositioned exteriorly of andvadjacenteach of said knives and plates,lmeans yieldingly mounting each of said llet guides to permit'rsai'dguides to yield outwardly as the llet increases in thickness, and means.actuated by movement ofi-said guide to actuate said slide and therebymove .the holddown plate carried thereby,

10. lIn a iish lleting machine Vhaving aipair of oppositelydisposedribbing knives andmeans'to feed thereover a lish having anv incision on`its .belly side and with itstail leading andiback. downward, hold-downmeans to maintainthe sh in contact with said 'ribbing'.knives,'saidhold-down means comprising a pair of oppositely disposed plates, aslide secured to each of said plates, means to slidably secure each of'said slides on arespective support disposed above sa-idknives an'd'inposition to suspend said plates to enter the incision in the bellysideof thesh and engage it onopposite sides of the backbone, a iillet guidepositioned exteriorlyof and Iadjacent each ofsaid knives and plates,.means yiel'din'ely m'ountingfeach of said fillet guidesfto permitvsai'dguides to Ayield outwardly as the lletincreasesin thickness, andmeans actuated vby 'movementfof said-guide to actuate said slide andthereby move the holddown plate vcarried thereby .a 1: r.edete.r.minedclistance irrespectivefoftheimovement of said llet guide.

1 1. In za `nshllletingi machinelhavnga pair. lof

.fish in 'hold-down means Lcomprising .a .pair of oppooppositelydisposed ribbing knives and means to feed ythereover Vaiish vhaving anincision on -its belly side and with its'tail leading and back downward,hold-.down means 4to maintain the fish in contact with fsaid'ribbingknives, said hold-down means comprising a pair of oppositely disposedplates, a slide secured to each of said plates, means to slidablysecureeach of said slides on a respective support disposed above said knivesand in position to Vsuspend said plates to enter the incision in thebelly side of the iish and engage it on opposite 'sidesfof the backbone,a iillet guide positioned exteriorlyofand adjacenteach of said knivesand plates, means lyieldingly mounting each of said llet guidesto.,permit said guides to yield outwardly as the iillet increases inthickness, and cam means actuatedby movement of said guide to actuatesaid fslide 'and thereby move the holddown plate carried'thereby.

12. 'In fa sh iilleting machine having a pair of oppositelydisposedribbing knives and means to feed thereover aish having anincision'on its belly Side and with its tail leading and back downward,hold-down means to maintain the sh in contact with said ribbing knives,said holddown means comprising a pair of oppositely disposed plates, aslide secured to each of said plates, means'to slidably 'secure'each ofsaid slides on a respective support disposedfabove saidfknives and inposition to suspend said .plates to'enter the incision in .thebellysideof the fish and'engage it Von opposite sides of .thebackbone,.a filletguide positioned exteriorly of and adiacenteach of said knives andplates, means yieldingly mounting each of said iilletguidesto permitsaidguides to yield outwardly as the lletincrcases in'thickness, and cammeans actuated by movement of said guide to actuate said slide 'andthereby move the holddownv plate. carried therebya predetermineddistance irrespectiveof the lmovementfof said llet guide.

13. In ansh lleting machine having a pair of oppositely-disposed ribbingVknives and means to feed thereover-afish having van incision on itsbellyside and with its tail leading and back downward, hold-down meansto maintain .the fish in contact withsaid ribbing knives, said hold-downmeans comprising a .pair ofoppositely disposed plates, aslide secured,to v:each .of lsaid plates, means `tosIi'dably mountl each .of '.saidslides on respective supports disposed above said knives and in positionto suspend said plates to enter the incision in thebelly side of the shand engage it on opposite sides of the backbone, 4a cam roller carriedbyeach of 'said slides, a llet guide positionedexteriorly of andadjacent each of said knives, a pivotally mounted arm carrying saidguide on one endthereof to permit :said guide to yield outwardly lasthellet increases in thickness, land a camflever mounted on. said farm,said vcam lever havnga rcameslotcooperating with said cam roller.

14. In 'a fish ll-eting machine'having a pair o'f oppositely disposedv'ribbing knives and means to feed thereovera iish'having an incision onits 'belly side and with its tail leading and back downward, hold-'downmeans .to maintain the 'contact with said ribbing knives, said sitelyr"disposed plates, :a .slide .secured :to each of said plates, means to:sli'dably mount each of said slides on respective .supports disposedabove said knives and in position'to suspend said platesto enter theincision inthe 'belly side of the iish and -engage iton opposite 'sidesof lthe backbone, a cam roller carried by each of said slides, a filletguide positioned exteriorly of and adjacent each of said knives, apivotally mounted arm carrying said guide on one end thereof to permitsaid guide to yield outwardly as the llet increases in thickness, and acam lever mounted on said arm, said cam lever having a cam slotcooperating with said cam roller, said cam slot having a constant radiusfor a substantial portion of its length.

15. In a sh fllleting machine having a pair of oppositely disposedribbing knives, means to feed thereover a fish having an incision on itsbelly side and with its tail leading and back downward and a cut-offknife at the eXit end of each knife, hold-down means to maintain thefish in contact with said ribbing knives. said hold-down meanscomprising a pair of oppositely disposed plates, means to yieldinglymount eac-h of said plates above said ribbing knives and suspend saidplates in position to enter the incision in the belly side of the sh andengage it on opposite sides of the backbone, each of said platesterminating in advance of the respective cut-off knife whereby the napewill be severed from the llet, and means adjustably mounted on each ofsaid plates to control the amount of nape to be severed.

16. In a sh lleting machine having a pair of oppositely disposed ribbingknives, means to feed thereover a fish having an incision on its bellyside and with its tail leading and back downward, and a cut-off knife atthe exit end of each knife, hold-down means to maintain the fish incontact with said ribbing knives, said hold-down means comprising a pairof oppositely disposed plates, means to yieldingly mount each of saidplates above said ribbing knives and suspend said plates in position toenter the incision in the belly side of the fish and engage it onopposite sides of the backbone, each of said plates terminating inadvance of the respective knife whereby the nape will be severed fromthe fillet, an auXili-ary plate mounted on each of said plates andconstituting an extension thereof, and means to adjust the position ofeach of said auxiliary plates relative to the respective cut-off knifeto control the amount of nape to be severed.

17. In a fish filleting machine having a pair of oppositely disposedribbing knives, which are substantially parallel at the forward portionand thereafter gradually diverge outwardly and upwardly from saidforward portion, and means to feed thereoverl a fish having an incisionin its belly side and with its tail leading and back downward, holddownmeans to maintain the sh in contact with said ribbing knives, saidhold-down means comprising a pair of oppositely disposed downwardlyconverging plates positioned above said knives with the respectivebottom edges in substantial alignment with the cutting edge of the knifetherebeneath, and means to yieldingly mount each of said plates adjacentthe front and rear thereof and suspend them in position to enter theincision in the belly side of the fish and engage it on oppo site sidesof the backbone, the means for mounting each of said plates at the frontthereof comprising an inclined swivel, means to limit the movement ofthe plate about its swivel, and means continuously urging the plate tomove downwardly.

18. In a fish iilleting machine having a pair of oppositely disposedribbing knives, which are substantially parallel at the forward portionand thereafter gradually diverge outwardly and upwardly from saidforward portion, and means to feed thereover a sh having an incision inits belly side and with its tail leading and back downward, hold-downmeans to maintain the fish in contact with said ribbing knives, saidhold-down means comprising three sections, each section comprising apair of oppositely disposed downwardly converging plates having theirrespective edges in substantial alignment with the cutting edge o-f theknife therebeneath, and means to mount each section independentlyyieldable.

CHARLES M. SAVRDA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,149,021 Hunt Feb. 28, 19391,709,362 Meissner et al Apr. 16, 1929

